Puppy Pad Usage

[andrea mogab]

My pekingese was rescued from a puppy mill, after spending the first 2.5 years of her life in those conditions. She will use puppy pads inside the house, pretty regularly, and sometimes goes outside. Often, though, she will go outside with her rescue brother, will come back inside a few minutes later, and proceed to use the puppy pad! How can I get her to understand that outside is the only way to go? If a puppy pad is not there for her use (inside the house), she will use whatever floor she chooses.

[Dawn Schneider]

Have you tried taking the puppy pads outside and having her use them out there?

[Kristen Collins, CPDT]

Hi Andrea,

Are you home all the time? If so and you're able to put some major time and effort into the project, you might be able to succeed in transitioning your dog to eliminating outdoors. I've attached a housetraining article, which will provide detailed advice.

You've got a tricky situation, though, considering your dog's history. Most puppy-mill dogs will urinate and defecate in crates and small confinement areas, so you can really use those tools to housetrain. Instead, you'll need to supervise your dog constantly for a while in order to effectively retrain her. Have you considered continuing to let your dog use puppy pads? Many small-dog owners choose to use them throughout their dogs' lives. You'd have to keep pads available for your dog to use and clean them up every day, of course, but that might be less of a hassle than trying to retrain your dog, with her history, to relieve herself outdoors. You could also look into a dog litter box. (Try a Google search or visit a major pet store to find those.)

Good luck and thanks for joining the chat. One last tip: If you'd like in-person help with your dog's problem, consider hiring a qualified professional, such as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB, www.certifiedanimalbehaviorist.com) or a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT, www.ccpdt.org). I've attached a second article, Finding Professional Help, which can aid you in finding and choosing a behavior expert in your area.

Kristen

Kristen Collins, CPDT
Animal Trainer
ASPCA Animal Behavior Center

[andrea mogab]

thanks for your note, Kristen. No, I am not home all the time. I work all day during the week. do you think it is a losing battle? I have had her 1.5 years now, and still the same issues....

[Kristen Collins, CPDT]

You're welcome. :)

Most people aren't home all the time, so I thought that might not be the case. So considering that, the fact that your dog spent so much of her life in a puppy mill, and the fact that she's been using the pads for over a year now, I'd definitely recommend focusing on getting your dog to consistently use the pads and sticking with those.

IMPORTANT:
Oops! In my post above, I was typing speedily and accidentally said that you can use crates and small confinement areas when housetraining puppy mill dogs. I meant to type that you usually CAN'T. Just wanted to make sure I corrected myself!

Again, good luck, Andrea.

Kristen

[andrea mogab]

thanks for your help